General Hospital's John J. York Chats On: If Mac Could Be Levi's Dad, Zachary Garred, Jon Lindstrom, & 23 Plus Years in Port Charles!

Last week on General Hospital, perennial good guy Mac Scorpio (John J. York) was shot by none other than treacherous Levi Dunkleman (Zachary Garred), after Levi’s true colors were revealed! As Mac stood there witnessing Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms) wedding by Felicia’s (Kristina Wagner) side, the camera panned to a hilarious shot of Mac crossing his fingers hoping that the wedding would be stopped. Mac has never liked Levi, and always thought something was off about the guy, and that the professed self help guru was completely the wrong man for Maxie.

As the wedding played out, it was revealed that Levi was after Felicia’s Aztec jewels and had tied up our hero Nathan (Ryan Paevey) in the process. When Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) found Nathan, the hot shot cop went to save Maxie from Dunkleman, only in the process, Maxie and Lulu (Emme Rylan) were taken hostage and Mac got shot! The story continues this week!

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with one of our favorite all-time General Hospital stalwarts John J. York at the recent GHFCW 2014 to get his thoughts on: what if it turned out that Levi was Mac’s biological son … or if he thinks we are way off the mark? Plus, John tells us if he is digging the current story involving “Dunkleman” and his on-screen family, and we take a moment to discuss the long time relationship between Mac and best bud, Kevin (Jon Lindstrom)!

I love the fact that Mac cannot stand Levi Dunkleman (Zachary Garred) which leads me to believe … he could possibly be his son?

Courtesy/Pinterest Photo: Becca Gomez Farrell

JOHN: I don’t thinks so, but it would be crazy if he was. How ironic if Levi is a little mysterious rogue kind of pirate like Mac was when he first came on the show.

JOHN: That’s right … Mac did too! So there are a lot of things that are going to be surprises coming up!

Do you like the current story? I always love checking in with you to get your thoughts on what’s unraveling on GH, since you always level with me and have great respect for fans of the show.

JOHN: I love the story, and I love Zachary. He’s great! You have to embrace the bad guy, and he got a lot of flack from fans at first. Many people for hundreds of years have gone through that. Some people didn’t like Susan Lucci when she played the more villainess side of Erica Kane on All My Children. So there is that love/hate thing, but Zachary is awesome.

Courtesy/ABC

I haven’t had the opportunity to tell you how much I liked the touching, albeit brief, moment between Mac and Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) at this years Nurses Ball when Kevin found out that Lucy (Lynn Herring) cheated on him with Scott (Kin Shriner). Kevin’s good bud Mac was there for him, as Kevin was walking out of the ball, and Mac walked out with him with his arm around his shoulder to support his friend. I think longtime fans of GH really understood that moment.

JOHN: Thank you very much. You know how I feel about Jon. I love him. I love him as a brother. We have had some really great memorable times: shaving our legs, smoking cigars, playing Norma and Eve, oh, my gosh. There has been so much great stuff. I always like when Jon comes back on the show. I really liked the scene after that, when it came out that Mac knew about the affair, and we had the fight. That was even more special to me, and then having a shot of whiskey and laughing about it afterwards. It was like two young brothers getting pissed off at each other and hamming it up.

Courtesy/ABC

It’s been 51 years of General Hospital and you are still here and beloved by the audience!

JOHN: It’s been 23 and half years for me. I am thrilled to still be a part of the show, I truly am.

So, do you think there is a chance that Mac and Levi are related? What do you think will happen next in the story as Mac is shot?

Have you enjoyed John J. York’s performance as Mac Scorpio over the last few decades? What do you think of the relationship between Mac and Kevin? Weigh-in on John’s comments in the interview below!

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jimh(leave it to beaver)

It was good to see Mac and Felicia used more…if Levi is Mac’s son who is Levi’s mum…who was Mac involved with before Felicia and is this woman Levis mum…maybe she’s been angry at Mac for whatever reason, told Levi a whole bunch of untrue lies about his DunkleDaddy Mac who was honestly unware he had a son, then Levi did research on Mac and thinking this is his daddy and was very mean to his mummy, decided revenge and that would be to steal the jewels but i still think he could be Flukes or Victors…maybe Levis mum lied and said Mac was his daddy when either Fluke or Victor really is and will find out long after Mac thinks he is the DunkleDaddy?

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August 18, 2014 9:21 am

Timmm

Levi could be Frisco’s kid Frankie. Frankie Jones could be the son of one of Frisco’s affairs while working at the WSB. He sent Frankie to steal the jewels off Felicia since she chose Mac over him?

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August 18, 2014 9:54 am

Karen

But that would mean that Levi slept with his own half sister.

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August 18, 2014 10:04 am

Timmm

Yeah, I didnt think about the Maxi factor. That would be gross but so is Milo and Epiphany!

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August 18, 2014 10:11 am

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Thats a good possibilty, Trimm…i like that one!

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August 18, 2014 10:19 am

jimh(leave it to beaver)

But Karen is right…that would make Maxi and Levi half siblings but since someone blatantly pointed out recently a certain unrelated subject happen in relife…maybe it could still be Levi’s father is Frisco’s…this wouldnt be the first time on a soap for an almost bro and sis pairing!!!

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August 18, 2014 10:28 am

Juls

But if he Frisco son Frankie, why would he wan to marry his sister? unless Maxie is not Fricso daughter, but Mac is.

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August 18, 2014 1:23 pm

Tim

Maxie was born Oct 31 1990,Mac didn’t come to PC untill 1991

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August 18, 2014 3:07 pm

MaxDaddee

I totally love John J York’s performance and role as Mac. I would like to see him have some higher profile story lines like he did years ago. Such as him hunting down where Maxie and Felicia are. Alot of exciting things could come out of all that. Maybe Mac will be bandaged up quickly and go in pursuit of hunting them down!

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August 18, 2014 9:25 am

Timmm

I cannot believe “Uncle Mac” has been on GH for over 23 years! This is a great character and a great guy. I only hope Levi is his son so Mac gets more air time. Him and Felicia kind of just hold up scenes with Maxi and Lucy right now and I would love it if Mac was back on the front burner again. The Aztec treasure could also bring back Frisco and Sean Donnely.

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August 18, 2014 9:49 am

janet

Frisco and Sean wow ! no thanks really . All FrankenRon have done is ruin all the characters they brought back. Love Mac, and would love to see him and Kevin on more. Plus Lucy away from the garbage they have her in now. I loved the old stories. They could at least put these four on more when the kids come back. They need Parents. Right now I dvr the show but I have no desire to watch it. The boards tell me all I need to know. Levi Dunklebore can return as his twin only if it gives us more mac.

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August 18, 2014 10:26 am

Timmm

You have a good idea Janet. Levi could have a twin and the actor recently cut his hair really short so who knows, maybe they are writing that very story?

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August 18, 2014 10:35 am

Shay

Timmm….Throughout this entire Dunkleman escapade, I have thought that the circumstances were screaming for Frisco to make an appearance. (In addition to other ongoing storylines that could easily and logically have featured his presence, too.) I love the idea of using legacy characters, but most of the ones currently on canvas simply bore me….they didn’t grab me the first time around, so to see them today really doesn’t gladden my heart, particularly when they are so spectacularly ridiculous in the storylines they are assigned. Lucy is a complete waste, as is Bobbie…their triangle with Scotty is ludicrous! As for Felicia, for me she has never been a stand-alone sensation…she owes her popularity to her ex, so to see her being propped up at his expense with the snarky remarks and jokes really dismays me. While Mac may be a perfectly decent fellow, he does nothing for me as he has been recently written….he’s just so ineffective….first as police commissioner, then with “Mr. Marbles'” and his corny shtick. I have nothing against York, but I often wonder why he is still around when other much more exciting male actors, like Jack Wagner and Rick Springfield, have been brushed aside. Since both are fathers to children who are major players in Port Charles, it would make much more sense to have them show up, even if only now and then…the excuses for and digs at their being absent fathers really rub me the wrong way, since I have only the fondest memories of both Frisco Jones and Noah Drake in their heyday. They helped make GH great, and for their images to be besmirched is just so wrong! In terms of Mac being the possible “Dunkledaddy” (Hat tip to jimh for coining that clever moniker!) I really don’t see it….if Levi (or whoever he is) should be attached to anyone in Port Charles it would probably be FLuke, and since the most feverish speculation points to him actually being Bill Eckert, then that would make Levi his real son, Sly. That would work for me, even though I can also think of some wildcard picks for other paternal figures for the “Dunkster.”

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August 18, 2014 7:56 pm

Timmm

Excellent points Shay. Yes, why haven’t we seen or heard from Noah. Patrick has been through hell and back and this would actually give him a story line and not a stunt casting to satisfy us super fans like they have with Scotty, Lucy, and Bobbie. Plus, Bobbie and Noah have history. Lucy has been a bust since Alan died. Your right about Felicia. Frisco could have sang “Lady of my Heart” to anyone and they would have been a fixture as long as Frisco was around.

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August 19, 2014 5:54 am

Shay

@Timmm….Yes, Noah’s conspicuous absence is mystifying. All we have heard of him as of late is that he dumped Bobbie for former GH nurse Anne Logan. Of course, I never could figure out why they put him back with the abominable Bobbie to begin with, other than that they were both supposedly at the same Seattle hospital. He broke up with her the first time because her past as a hooker caught up with her when the original Dr. Drake’s blue-blooded senator uncle visited Port Charles and recognized Nurse Spencer from one of his assignations at her Aunt Ruby’s cathouse. That should have been enough for him to swear off of her for good!!! At any rate, it has been quite unnatural not to see hide nor hair of Noah during Patrick’s many crises. Ditto for Frisco with all of Maxie’s melodrama….although I enjoyed his performance of “All I Need” at last year’s NB, it was an odd choice because it was not meant for Felicia, but Tania. (who I never liked…yuck!) I realize the fact that the song was a big hit for Jack Wagner was probably the reason behind the selection, but a much more appropriate choice would have been “Too Young.” The lyrics perfectly fit the situation and that tune was one of his finest! I still love it……

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August 19, 2014 10:09 pm

Timmm

“Too Young” was his best song EVER! It only charted at 52. It should have been #1!

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August 20, 2014 6:04 am

Wendelyn Sullivan

I agree. All I Need was the wrong choice for Frisco to sing to Felicia, Too Young, would have been better. I think Anna should contact Frisco, his Daughter has been kidnapped, his ex-Wives jewels were stolen. It makes sense that He would make an appearance. Why bring up the Aztec Jewels. That is Felicia and Frisco’s storyline, not Mac’s. Spinelli too, should know what is going on with Maxie. She’s his Baby Mama.

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August 22, 2014 8:26 pm

Shay

@Wendelyn Sullivan….So right on all points! It truly irks me that we currently have so many worthless and unnecessary filler characters on the GH canvas, while a great legacy role like Frisco Jones is overlooked and cast aside when it would be perfectly logical for him to be present and accounted for….ditto for Noah!!!

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August 22, 2014 10:32 pm

Shay

Totally agree with you, Timmm! The BEST! : )

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August 20, 2014 10:29 pm

Kaleesi

I would like Levi to be related to Fluke. I think it fits!

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August 18, 2014 10:31 am

Tammy Kreiss

He is as awesome off camera as he is on. As long as he is on screen, I will enjoy whatever they throw his way! He doesn’t strike me though, (as Mac) to have created such a vile child, or to have had a child that he was never told of. Mac would also never abandon his child if he did know of one.

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August 18, 2014 10:36 am

umgirl2000

I have my own theory on how Levi and Mac could be father and son and rambled it on Tumblr: Take the time to read it- it makes sense and gives a theory on Levi’s mother- one with connections to Mac and the Jacks family.

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August 18, 2014 10:57 am

Aria

I’ve always been surprise that Mac didn’t have an offspring out there somewhere but I’m not sure I want it to be Levi although I no longer loath the character . I was a kid when Felicia first ce on but I remember all those adventures she had with frisco. Current fans might not know this but back in the days characters like Anna ,Felicia and Laura had stories that where fun and dangerous , today’s girls like Maxie n Sam have nothing on them one would think the daughters of Laura Anna and Felicia would be more kick ass like their mothers use to be..

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August 18, 2014 11:54 am

su0000

!!!!!

Long live da`Dunkleman !!!!

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August 18, 2014 12:00 pm

mfarris70

I’m thinking Levi is either part of Victor’s WSB or Fluke’s plan– or maybe both! Still hoping that if Fluke is Bill Eckert, then Levi is his son Sly Eckert who we last saw as Lucky’s best friend/cousin. Which would also relate him to Lulu.

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August 18, 2014 12:14 pm

rebecca1

I love John York’s Mac. He has always been the epitome of paternal love, as well as friend, husband. He has never veered off course. Good looking, responsible…yet never boring. It’s not so much that he has exciting story lines…but there’s something about his demeanor that draws you in. Soaps are divided between good vs. evil. For those that enjoy the family/friend/homey sort of feel…that’s the embodiment of Mac. He held the fort down when Felicia left…he raised Maxie, Georgie and Robin as his own…he participated in their girly antics…while all the while being a strong leader in the police force.

What I don’t like is how he’s been relegated to the back. I think he, Felicia, Lucy, Scott all still quite a lot to give to Port Charles rather than be the supportive older generation in the background. Because, in actuality, they’re not even old! The give Sonny and Carly more airtime…and they’re in the same age bracket.

They threw Mac to the back of the story when Anna and Duke were trying to find Robin…they’ve rendered him useless when he used to be/still should have a cop’s mind and attitude.

So, I’d like to see him back on the force. At this point they should change Anna’s name to Detective Clouseau (female version). Or, they can somehow pair them together…put Felicia and her private investigative mind back in action…revive these characters!

As for Levi…still not sure who he “belongs to.” Definitely needs work on his American accent. I can still hear traces of his Aussie accent…

Hoping the kidnapping of Maxie and Lulu get Mac back in the running. As for John York? He sounds as nice and genuine as his character. And I always like to hear an actor enthusiastic about the role he plays/show he’s on.

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August 18, 2014 12:25 pm

Lin

I totally agree. There is no reason for Mac not to have good story lines. He did at one time. And I’m sick of Sonny and Carly. I don’t know why Sonny always has such big story lines. And felicia always seems to stupid, but that was not always true.

I have been saying (to myself) for years that John York deserves a front and center storyline.

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August 19, 2014 5:52 am

Lynn Wells

Good grief I hope Levi is not Mac’s soon. Why would he be ? I can’t stand Levi since day one. As far as Kevin and Mac’s friendship, everyone should have one like that.

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August 18, 2014 12:31 pm

Rodd

I love John J. York/Mac but I really hope Levi is not his son. Too many surprise children in too few months.

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August 18, 2014 1:41 pm

Omar

I like the actor the plays Mac..But his character has become sooooo stale and boring for the last few years and it needs to be changed up a bit..After the shooting why not make Mac a little bit more of a gerk..Give him a little bit of an edgier storyline..Not like Fluke, but something to bring him a little to the wildside!

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August 18, 2014 2:57 pm

Omar

And making him Levi’s dad is stupid at best!!

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August 18, 2014 2:58 pm

jaybird369

Omar…dude…AGREED!!!!! I mean…the possibility of Mac being Levi’s dad…AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!! Anyway, Mac and Levi as father and son??? Big help…as in N-O-T!!!!! Man…if this is GH’s attempt to make Levi more likable, sorry but this ain’t the way to do it. No. It’s only gonna make me dislike that loony-tune Levi EVEN MORE!!!!! Bottom Line Here: GH had better N-O-T go there with this sudden lunacy!!!!! No.

Take care, Omar. A-C-E-S!!!!!

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August 18, 2014 8:57 pm

Charday

That is true about the stale and boring. Sadly, GH does this to the older, classic characters. They don’t have their own storyline, but only incidentally support the young/newer stories. Still, I do like Mac and Felicia and hope to see more of them with this Aztec/Levi storyline.

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August 18, 2014 5:17 pm

CeeCee

I’m with you, Charday (love the name, btw), bore is the key word. But, I still love GH. It just irks me to have recycled storylines resurface….such as Carly and Sonny. Again? Somebody…..gimme a break. Yuck.

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August 19, 2014 7:01 am

Engrady Pind

If Levi has to be related to someone in Port Charles, let him be a son of Jimmy Lee Holt and thus a Quartermaine. We know Levi is NOT Australian so let’s immediately eliminate the possibility of him being Mac’s son — Heaven Forbid.

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August 18, 2014 5:02 pm

Jimmy

But why would you want to tie such a terrible person to the Q family? I know the Q-count has been running low on GH for a while now, but I don’t think this would be the way to expand the family, considering the character Levi is universally hated.

Plus, it would work better if Jimmy Lee Holt was actually on the show now. To be honest, when ABC announced Michael Easton, Kris Alderson and Roger Howarth were returning as new characters, I was hoping Roger would play Jimmy Lee or another member of the Q family – him playing Franco is a bummer and just doesn’t work considering Franco’s past.

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August 18, 2014 9:32 pm

Guest

@Engrady Pind- Think you are forgetting that Robin has NO accent- her Mom, Anna is British and her Dad, Robert, is Australian. Same with Ethan- he is Australian- his Mom, Holly is British and his Dad,Luke is American. ACCENTS do not matter !! Levi COULD be just about ANYONE’s son. Think with Mac’s shady past and when Mac first arrived to Port Charles he was not well liked either. Heck, Robert could not stand Mac- they were estranged for YEARS!! Could be that Robert’s fiance, Lilly, back before coming to Port Charles had an affair with Mac- maybe that added to their animosity. When Mac first arrived and Robert pulled him out of the water – he immediately pushed him back in when he saw it was Mac. Robert did not forgive Mac until Robert got shot and needed a transfusion and it was Mac that saved his life.

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August 20, 2014 7:41 am

C

Ugh, Levi better not be Mac’s son.

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August 18, 2014 9:17 pm

steve

Hmmmm…I don’t know if I buy that it’s Mac’s son because then it’s almost an element of incest. The actor’s good I sjut don’t want no offense to the actor the character around anymore. I know Im not alone on this.

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August 19, 2014 3:04 pm

Guest

Steve, Mac and Frisco are NOT related. Mac’s brother is Robert. Frisco’s brother is Tony!! Levi and Maxie would not be related at all if Mac was Levi’s biological brother.

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August 20, 2014 7:43 am

Steve

Yes but Mac has always considered himself Maxie’s father which we all know so therefore even though not reallly..whihc is why I put down almost a form of…….

The newest talk shows in the daytime arena premiered on Monday and their initial ratings were quite strong. First up was the premiere of Grammy-winner, Kelly Clarkson and her new series The Kelly Clarkson Show.

According to Variety: the NBCUniversal new daytime series scored a 1.9 household metered market rating and a 6 share in the 56 metered markets. That is the highest debut for a new syndicated show since 2012.

Elsewhere, Disney’s Tamron Hall posted a 1.4 household rating and a 5 share, and with that Tamron scored the highest other debut other than Clarkson in the past five years.

Nashville was the most successful and predicted market for Clarkson, the show scored a 5.97 household rating on its premiere day which climbed 7% to a 6.41 on Tuesday.

Hall will be promoting her show with a cameo appearance on this Friday’s episode of General Hospital where she appears in scenes with Ingo Rademacher (Jax).

In a tweet Tamron also promised that on Friday’s episode of her talker she will talk about her “longgggggg #GH love and history.”

So, have you checked out the new Kelly Clarkson or Tamron Hall Shows? What do you think of them? Comment below.

General Hospital fans know that Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) has fathered a lot of children in Port Charles and then some, and there is even another Corinthos baby on the way.

Now, available on ABC.com and the ABC app (no sign in required) comes a new collection of past GH episodes entitled, ‘All Sonny’s Children’ featuring life-changing moments in the mobster’s life. The collection is available for viewing today September 9th through December 1st.

Courtesy/ABC

Included in the the 16-episode collection is: Sonny learning the truth about Dante, Michael’s devastating confession, Morgan’s heartbreaking struggles with mental health, Sonny’s unconditional love and support of daughter Kristina, as well as the hesitation and joy that comes with knowing a new baby is on the way.

So, check out the collection and let us know which episodes are your favorites? And, who is your favorite kid of Sonny’s of all-time? Weigh-in below. But first watch the just released promo for the collection.

Sonny Corinthos’ children are the reason he wakes up in the morning. Relive some of their most unforgettable moments in the newest General Hospital Collection: All Sonny’s Children. All 16 episodes are available now – without a login! CLICK TO WATCH: https://t.co/IytVDHu6Oe#GHpic.twitter.com/dtdINhykzc

It was a pretty wonky summer for General Hospital’s Dr. Hamilton Finn (Michael Easton), especially concerning the women in his life. After proposing to Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) she exits to go deal with her twin sister, Alex, thus facilitating Hughes’ summer break from the series.

Meanwhile, another great love of Finn’s life, Hayden (Rebecca Budig) re-emerges on the canvas during Liz (Rebecca Herbst) and Franco’s (Roger Howarth) wedding reception, and is now clearly involved in some story with Jasper Jacks (Ingo Rademacher). But what about the unresolved feelings and story with Hayden and Finn? After all, she left him and Port Charles and had his child (who is apparently alive) but is not letting her ex know that little fact.

Meanwhile as a doctor, Finn has had to deal with numerous medical infectious disease crisis’, with the latest being what happened to Sasha (Sofia Matteson) at the hands of the evil Cassandra Pierce (Jessica Tuck), who Finn would love to put behind bars for all of her nefarious drug-related crimes and for what she previously perpetrated on him.

Michael Fairman TV recently caught up with one of our favorite gents in daytime, Michael Easton, to get his thoughts on the on-screen developments in Port Charles, what he hopes is ahead this fall, a look back at some of his favorite soap roles (from One Life’s John McBain to Port Charles’ Caleb Morley), why One Life to Live was such a gem of a soap and a special time for him and his enduring soap career, and much more. So, here’s what Michael shared in our irreverent entertaining, and candid chat.

Photo: ABC

Hayden has been back. But you and Rebecca Budig have not thus far shared many scenes together. Do you think we will eventually circle back to their story?

MICHAEL: First of all, it is amazing having Rebecca back. I’d like to say that I had forgotten how beautiful and talented she is, but I didn’t. She stays with you, and her performances resonate. So, coming back to work with her is like falling back into it. For selfish reasons, I am somewhat disappointed that I thought when Hayden came back; she would completely turn Finn’s life upside down. So, to be honest with you, I don’t know much more than what you are seeing is going on.

I don’t understand why the show is keeping that apart. That’s what people wanted to see when Hayden came back, because many fans loved them together.

MICHAEL: I’ve taken a hit anytime I’ve run into fans because I think (any fans that follow that couple), when they left, are a little disappointed in what they are seeing in that the girl who left is not the girl who has come back. I think that has been the difficult thing for Finn. It’s almost like she has reverted back to a character she was a few years prior to that. In terms of having his life upturned, it hasn’t been upturned because she has been rather cold to him. So, it probably isn’t the way I would have told the story, but maybe they have some great stuff up their sleeve. I think the stuff that we have had together has shown promise. Hopefully there will be more, because I enjoy working with her so much.

So, there’s a baby. Does Finn ever think the baby Hayden said died, could be alive?

MICHAEL: I don’t think he does. I think he (just from Finn’s nature) would believe that she would never to that to him. I imagine his thought would be, “What did I ever do to you? You would do this to me,” because he was clearly in love with her, and she broke his heart. I don’t think he ever sees that coming. I know it’s hard because the audience all knows that, and it’s hard to play the person who is not in the loop when everybody else knows the truth, but you have to play that. You have to play that you don’t watch the show. I think Finn has to come from that place that she would never do that, and I think that will probably take it to a place (if that is the case) that will just make the fall that much grander, but again it is incredible having Rebecca back.

Photo: ABV

Has Rebecca said anything to you like, “What’s going on? I’m barely talking to you on the show?” (Laughs)

MICHAEL: Yes. I don’t want to speak for her, but I think she probably thought it was going to be more the character that left who was coming back. I think we’ve all been a little surprised, but maybe the writers have some great surprises up their sleeves, and this will play out. It’s just different than I thought it would play out.

Finola Hughes had gone off on her summer vacation for awhile which put a pause in what’s next for the Anna and Finn romance, as well.

MICHAEL: Well, you work with me long enough, and then you need some time off, right? It’s like PTSD, right? You need a three-month treatment plan to make it back. So, I don’t blame her for taking some time off. (Laughs)

Finn proposed to Anna with this impromptu-at-her feet-moment at the Nurses’ Ball. Did you like the proposal?

MICHAEL: The only thing that I would have done differently is that I originally thought she said no, just because I love playing uncomfortable, embarrassing moments. I would have had a lot of fun with that because being embarrassed in front of groups of people is something that I would like to play. I do that quite often in my own life. (Laughs) I didn’t watch it back, but in the moment, it felt really nice. She’s lovely. Who wouldn’t propose to her? So, there wasn’t a great deal of difficulty in doing that.

Photo: ABC

Do you sense the on-screen magic between Finn and Anna?

MICHAEL: I hope we both bring each other out of our comfort zones a little bit. I think Finola embraces that, and I embrace that. I think we both sort of pull each other a little bit. When the writers write it that way, especially early on, there was a lot of great dialogue and banter, it was like a very adult-type of movie for a while, and I really enjoy that. It is like Sullivan’s Travels or something like that. That’s a really dated reference. Who else do you know that is going to pull out a reference to Preston Sturges movies? (Laughs) How about Moonlighting? Even that might be dated now, but it’s closer. (Laughs) I think that’s it. She’ll go with it. Sometimes just in the flow of it, stuff comes out, and nothing goes by Finola. There is no ad-lib or gesture that you can make where she won’t go with you on it. She’s such a pro, and she is so good at that.

Do you think Finn will finally help apprehend Cassandra? How is it when you get to work with Jessica Tuck?

MICHAEL: Yeah. I would imagine. I love Jessica. I think she is fantastic, and I always like when the “bad guy” doesn’t know they’re the bad guy. I know when I played Caleb on Port Charles; one of the things I liked about him was that he never thought he was the bad guy. I think that is always the right way to play a bad guy, and Jessica certainly doesn’t play it that way. She plays it like she is just really devious. She is lovely. I sort of look at it like a team, and anytime you lose good players, your team is not as good. So, anytime someone says something about someone coming back who is a really good actor, it’s great when they come back.

Photo: JPI

How does Finn feel now about his brother, Chase (Josh Swickard)? He just can’t seem to get himself to show his affection towards his younger brother.

MICHAEL: He does love him, and that’s right. That’s the conflict, but it’s hard to be mad at Josh because he is the sweetest kid. He looks at you with those big brown eyes, and you go, “Why am I being such a jerk to this guy? He’s just too nice, but it’s good. I think we’ve slowly developed a rapport, and it’s just one of those things that I think every so often, daytime gets right where you can almost tell something in real time. It wasn’t rushed. It’s taken a year, and they are sort of coming around to one another, but there are still a lot of secrets. That’s coming up.

Photo: ABC

Where would you rate Finn in the scope of your characters? I mean, for me, McBain will always be #1.

MICHAEL: Is McBain 1? (Laughs) You and Steve Burton (Jason, GH). I’ve never sat and ranked them. Obviously, I played McBain the longest, and it was probably the character who was the most like me I did ride-alongs with cops in New York City for like a month. So, I was able to ground him in some reality for myself, and I was able to stick to that. We had a great adviser on the show for over a year who was a former New York City detective, gold shield guy. Someone once asked why the police department was so good at One Life, and that was it. They really embraced it. We didn’t have people sneaking out of the jail-cell with a bobby pin picking the lock. (Laughs)

It was a bit grittier on One Life.

MICHAEL: I enjoyed that. McBain not saying “I love you” for 10 years, being on daytime and being able to do that – now that is quite the accomplishment!

Photo: JPI

I remember when McBain FINALLY told Natalie (Melissa Archer) “I love you.” I lost it, but then again, I am sucker for soapy goodness like that. It was a big moment.

MICHAEL: It was. Then, he had to kind of retract it and said, “I was drugged.”

Yeah right, he had that “What did I do?” moment.

MICHAEL: “What did I do?” That’s right. So, that was a challenge, and that was really interesting. Port Charles’ Caleb was probably the most fun to play because that was just an incredible amount of freedom. There was no grounding it in anything. It was the biggest sandbox I’d ever played in. If you wanted to walk over to the couch, you walked over to the couch. You did whatever you wanted to, and obviously, getting to work with the lovely Kelly Monaco (Ex-Livvie, Port Charles, now Sam, GH) every day… it was just nice. Caleb only had one intention. He was in love with this girl, and he just wanted to be with her, and anytime you get one specific need as an actor, it makes it so easy. You’ll stop at nothing to be with this girl, and that’s so fun to play.

Photo: ABC

Right, and Kelly Monaco and you have amazing chemistry when you have been paired romantically together in story.

MICHAEL: Yeah, I think those things exist in a special place, and they probably belong in that special place. Although, I thought it was an interesting dynamic for a period of time, it would have been interesting to see where that would have gone on GH with McBain, and Jason, and Sam, because there was something there that they could have built on very slowly. I don’t know what would have happened, but I think that dynamic was the only dynamic that could have worked for a period of time. I don’t think Fin would work, but that one dynamic would have been interesting when you have the cop, the outlaw, and the girl who comes between them.

Photo: ABC

One Life to Live recently would have celebrated its 51st anniversary if it was still on the air. Back in July, I posted these photos of major characters through the years. I received so many “likes” and so many comments on social media such as, “I miss it so much. Bring it back!” What can you say about those enduring One Life fans and being part of that one-of-a-kind show?

MICHAEL: They’re the most beautiful fans. All of the daytime fans are beautiful, but I think it was a really nice connection with the One Life to Live fans, and we got to know so many of them working in New York on the streets, you came out of the studio, and people were right there. So, you really got to know them. You got to engage with people. I love that show, and I miss it. Otherwise, I still stay in touch with a lot of them. I think that speaks to it. I have lifelong friends who I met on that show, which never happens. Usually, you walk out of a show on your last day, and you’ll never see anybody again. You’ll all say, “Yeah, let’s exchange numbers.” I walk out of there and I go, “Thank you, and I’ll never see you again.” I don’t even lie to people. Like, I know I’ll never see you again, and I never have except for that show, and I am still in touch with so many of those people. So, I think that spoke to how close we were.

Photo: JPI

Were you and Roger Howarth (Franco/Drew) always close on One Life, or are you closer now because you do all of the personal appearance events you do together?

MICHAEL: Well, Roger and I have known each other; it must be going on… 25-30 years now. So, it was pre-One Life. I think at some point we both had long hair, and both had done daytime, so we were pretty interchangeable. I think one time they called him about a part I did, and one time, they called me about a part when he left. I actually know Roger because I did a series called 413 Hope St., and Jesse Martin was the lead in it. It was a Damon Wayans series for Fox. So, I had known of Roger, but I really got to know him at a New Year’s Eve party in like 1995/96. Obviously, I’ve become really close to him now because we never did appearances or that sort of thing, but I think we have both sort of gotten over ourselves a little bit now. (Laughs)

Because you weren’t very visible before. That goes for both of you!

MICHAEL: No, and that’s by default. I don’t think we ever discussed it.

Photo: ABC

It wasn’t a conscious decision?

MICHAEL: No, I just thought (especially when I came back to daytime to do Caleb) it was just more interesting if people didn’t know a lot about me because the character was that. So, it took me a while to ease into it, and also, I just had to get over myself. I had a fear of engaging with large groups of people for a while. In a strange way, Roger and I have kind of gravitated to each other. I think we are both similar types. Between the two of us, we make up one real man, you know? Each of us is like half a man. (Laughs)

Together you can conquer.

MICHAEL: We are a good crutch for each other! He picks up my half, I pick up his. That’s the solution.

So what do you think GH viewers can look forward to coming up with Finn?

MICHAEL: I’m assuming at some point he is going to get his world turned upside down when he finds out about Hayden and the baby, and how he is going to react to that will probably be interesting. I hope that’s going to happen.

Photo: ABC

If he became an addict again, how would you feel about that?

MICHAEL: I think him struggling and getting over that would be interesting. I would hope that wouldn’t be his reaction, but I guess that always hangs over your head. Certainly, him falling apart would be interesting. I think your faith in the universe would be crushed in that moment. I don’t know how he would react. I’m just really curious to see how that would shake out and to play that. I think it would be a challenge. I think you’re always looking for some way to turn everything … and I invite that. I always think that sometimes in daytime we play the gimmick, but you should always play to the heart of the story. What’s going to make you feel something? If you feel something as the character, as the actor, I think the audience will feel something with you. I think it is maybe one of the things that we have gotten away from a little bit is that emotional attachment. When I watch shows that really move me, it’s still that emotional attachment between two people, and at the end of the day it should still be a love story … no matter what it is. I think that is the heart of what we should be doing. I think every poem should be a love poem of some sort. I know they have to weave the other stuff, the science fiction, and the memories, and the missing babies, and the twins, but at the heart of it, it should really be about two people finding themselves in love.

MICHAEL: Trevor St. John (Ex-Todd/Victor Lord Jr. OLTL) and I are always talking about doing a short film. Every time we drink too much beer, next thing you know, we are going to be doing a movie. We have many beers, and then we shoot a film. Then, we call our friends like Kamar de los Reyes (Ex-Antonio, OLTL), and Sherri Saum (Ex-Keri, OLTL), and Dan Gauthier (Ex-Kevin OLTL), and we go, “Now you guys, drink many beers, and you will join us on this film.”

See, now I get how movies are made!

So, are you hoping that GH tells more of the story between Finn and Hayden? Are you hoping that Anna and Finn make it to their “I do’s? What would you like to see happen to Finn? And finally, of all Michael’s soap roles which has been your favorite? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.